Fence-signal



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. soHLY-BR. FENCE SIGNAL.

(No Model.)

PatentedJune 25, 1889.

5412014420@ Jbl/m Scilla/e7". WJML@ (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. SGHLYER. FENCE SIGNAL.

No. 405,851. Patented June 25, 1889.

Jhn Sch/yer? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN SOIILYER, OF HAYS CITY, KANSAS.

FENCE-SIG NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,851, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed May l, 1888. Serial No. 272,515. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN SOHLYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hays City, in the county of Ellis and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Signals; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in barbed-wire fences; and it consists of a tag or signal, preferably stamped from sheet-iron, tin, or other suit-able material, and of the form or forms herein described,which tag is adapted to be secured to and depend from a wire of a barbed-wire fence.

Heretofore such signals have been secured to the wire by a springclip; but in the present instance I turn or bend over the upper end of the body of the signal and fasten it to itself below the line of bending, thus forming an eye which embraces the wire loosely.

In practice a number of these signals are used, preferably disposed on the uppermost wire of the fence and alternating with the barbs thereon, though it is obvious they may be placed upon any or all of the wires, as shown in the drawings. One orboth faces of these signals is coated or painted with phosphorus, whereby they may be seen at night m'th ease, and at all times the swinging of the signals in the wind and their screeching noise as they turn on the wire attracts the attention of the stock in the lield surrounded by the fence and prevents such stock from rushing headlong against the fence,to the laceration of their flesh and the injury of the fence itself, by indicating the position of the fence and attracting attention when it is appreached.

The following specification describes and the drawings illustrate what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front view of one section of a barbed-wire fence with my improved stock-signals attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same.

The same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

The letter P designates the posts, W the wires, and B the barbs, of a barbed-wire fence of any approved orpreferred make or construction. Disposed upon one or more of said wires, and preferably alternating with the barbs thereon, is a series of signals S, of diamond, square, hexagonal, round, or irregular contour, as desired, the shape and size thereof being regulated by the fancy of the maker or user. Both Vfaces of these signals or tags are painted or coated with a solution of luminous phosphorus, whereby they will be visible at night and thereby give warning to people or animals of the location of the fence.

The manner in which these signals are secured to said fence wire or wires is as follows: A tongue s is formed integral with the body of the signal, and generally extended some distance beyond onepoint or corner thereof. In securing said signal upon the wire this tongue is bent over and down against the body of the signa-l, to which it is secured by inserting an eyelet, rivet, or bolt E through both tongue and body, thereby forming an eye I at said corner, which loosely embraces t-he wire.

In some instances, where the upper end of the signal is square, 'it maybe considered preferable to cut two vertical slits Ls" inwardly from said end, forming a tongue s between them, which is bent over and secured in the same manner, and allowing the two remaining side tongues s? to extend upwardly above the wire, as shown at the center of each figure. In all cases, however, the force of the wind or breeze, no matter how slight, will cause the signals to swing back and forth and sometimes entirely over and around the wire, as shown in dotted lines, thus causing said signals to glitter in the sunlight or glisten at night and at all times to emit a squeaking or screeching noise, all of which assist in elfeeting the desired cnd-viz., to signal the location of the fence and prevent persons or animals precipitatingthemselves thereon.

It will be evident that the size and shape of these signals are entirely matters of taste; but I consider the phosphorus Jthereon an essential featurc, and the described mode of fastening an improvement over any heretofore in ICO vented or used, in that it combines strength, simplicity, and durability.

These signals may loe made and attached to the fence when the latter is manufactured, or may be made separate and sold as an article of manufacture to farmers, cattle-raisers, and

other users of barbed-Wire fences, and by the latter attached to their fencesalready constructed, the simple and economical mode of attachment greatly facilitating such sale and use.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- JOHN SCHLER.

' Witnesses:

G. W. BALLooH, C. F. RoBERTs. 

